Your Online Presence

If you haven’t gotten onto the Web site bandwagon, this may be the time to jump on. With today’s infatuation with the Internet, a good way to get your name out there would be to set up a Web site, which can serve as a 24/7 salesperson for your company. According to Internet World Stats (www.internetworldstats.com), close to 75 percent of the population in North America (more than 251 million people) are Internet users. Just think of how many more people you could reach that you aren’t reaching now. This era hasn’t been called the Information Age for nothing. People want instant information. If you’re not online, then how many potential customers aren’t finding you?

A good Web site gives your customers and potential customers a range of information at their fingertips, including the services you provide, pictures of your work, properties you maintain, designs you’ve done for clients, news and events and more. Be sure to put how long you’ve been in business, your education and licenses that you hold, as well as the associations you belong to—basically, all the information you can supply that shows your qualifications and your commitment to the industry. You can also post a monthly blog or a Webcast. One member of www.LawnSite.com says he gets 300 to 350 unique visitors a month to his site, providing three to four solid leads a week.

There are many resources out there to get you set up with a site, some specifically for lawn care and landscaping companies. Just do an Internet search and you’ll find templates and host companies—whatever you need to get started. If you’ve never set up a site before, it might be a good idea to work with a professional, but a lot of the resources online allow you to do it yourself. If you’re unsure how beneficial a Web site will be for your company, start with a basic site to see how much traffic you get. You can always update the site and add more information later. Once it’s set up, be sure to put your Web site address on all your business cards, trucks, letterhead and promotional materials. You also want to look into search engine optimization so it’s easier for people to find your site when doing an online search.